title: Multistate implementation of guideline-based cardiac resuscitation systems of care: description of the HeartRescue project.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is large and significant regional variation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), and despite advances in treatment, survival remains low. The American Heart Association has called for the creation of integrated cardiac resuscitation systems of care capable of measuring and improving evidence-based care from bystanders through to hospital discharge.
  
  
  METHODS
  The HeartRescue Project was initiated in 2010 by the Medtronic Foundation in collaboration with 5 academic medical centers and American Medical Response. The HeartRescue Project aims to develop regional cardiac resuscitation systems of care that will implement guideline-based best practice bystander, prehospital, and hospital care with standardized data reporting linked to outcomes. The primary goal is to improve collective OHCA survival by 50% over 5 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total population in the 5 participating states is 41.1 million. At baseline, the HeartRescue Project covers approximately 26.1 million people (63.6%) and has engaged 767 emergency medical services agencies and 269 hospitals. Data will be collected for quality improvement, to inform provider feedback, and serve to define effective strategies to improve cardiac arrest care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HeartRescue Project is the largest public health initiative of its kind focused entirely on cardiac arrest outcomes. The project is designed to significantly improve OHCA survival by implementing and measuring model systems of care for cardiac resuscitation.
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Critical Care and Cardiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: van Diepen
authors.forename: Benjamin S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Abella
authors.forename: Bentley J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Bobrow
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nichol
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Jollis
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mellor
authors.forename: Edward M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Racht
authors.forename: Demetris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yannopoulos
authors.forename: Christopher B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Granger
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Sayre
mesh_terms: D000572:American Heart Association; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000592:standards*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D058687:Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011634:Public Health; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012042:Registries; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology